I just checked and my report on dealing with a baby with Epidermolysis
bulosa is in the archives so I won't repeat the story.
(Thu, 25 May 2000 22:47:26 -0400)

However, I do want to add that:

I have always asked a mom whose baby is very sick or dying if she planned
to breastfeed - if she did, I then offer to help her pump if she would
like.  Most of the moms I've offered this to have accepted, pumped, and
stopped pumping when THEY were ready to accept the situation - one pumped
for weeks after her baby died - and gave the milk to a milk bank.  Some
stopped pumping within 24 hours - but none told me they were sorry they
did, or angry that I offered it.
I also had a situation in which we were told that the baby would never be
normal - would probably be dead very soon - and the baby recovered -
completely.  This mom was pumping - and was still breastfeeding when I saw
them 7 months later.  She was SO grateful to have been able to put her baby
to the breast as soon as he was showing some signs of recovery.  She felt
this helped him heal - and helped her bond with her baby.  We had gotten
lots of negative comments from other staff members and family members who
asked me why I was stressing the mom out by "demanding" she pump.  She and
I had great rapport, and she was always the lead...I just offered and
followed...offering her information, education, my expertise and my "ear".
 (The physical and the psychological one).

The way in which we offer education and support is as important as what we
do and say.  This is one reason that I'm so glad I have the degree in
Social Work as well as the RN with my IBCLC.  The Lactation Consultant
needs expertise from both fields just as the Public Health Nurse and many
other specialties that provide face to face services to people in stress.

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, PHN, IBCLC
NEW e-mail address: [log in to unmask]

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